Whew and just like that Quarter 1 is done. We have made it through the first quarter of 2021. Is it just me or did that go really fast? It seems like 2020 was never-ending and now 2021 is on fast forward.
Quarter 1 was an interesting one, to say the least. Did you set New Year's resolutions? If so, have you stuck with them or have you given up? We hit the ground running on January 1, but as the excitement wears off so does our commitment. I don’t know about you, but I was so sure I was going to pace myself this year and not get burnt out, and of course, that’s not what happened.
I kicked off 2021 ready to go slow and steady, but somewhere along the way I found myself wanting to do it all. This past week or so has been one of exhaustion and irritability. While I fully intended this post to be a “special edition” -I wanted it to really be the end of the quarter- I did not expect it to take me an entire week to write. Yes, you read that correctly. It has taken me an entire week to sit down and write this post. I just wasn’t feeling it. I would sit down at the computer, get a solid three sentences out, and then get stuck.
The first quarter of the year didn’t go how I expected, and I think that left me feeling a tad bit discouraged. I was discouraged until I realized that while it may not have been everything I had hoped, it was still my best quarter to date. It was my best quarter mentally, physically, and in business.
Total Well-Being Wins
Mental health. Are you cringing at just the mere words already? Yeah, I know. After 2020, I think it is safe to say, a lot of us have seen a decline in our mental well-being, or maybe we are aware of it for the first time. Whether you want to admit it or not, our mental health was under full attack in 2020, and is still a hot topic as 2021 moves along. Between being forced into a "new normal" and civil unrest 2020 threw our peace under the bus. I know for me, I had to put in extra effort to maintain my mental well-being. I had to cut the TV off, put my phone down, and sometimes remove myself from people and situations. All of my practice in 2020 equipped me for 2021.
One of the most common new years resolutions is to get in shape. Well, this year I'm making it happen. In January I began working with a trainer. I was slightly hesitant, but it's been one of the best parts of 2021. In working with a trainer only once a week I’ve already seen my body begin to change. And as we all know, when you begin to notice the changes it is only further motivation to keep going. Working out has become a form of self-care. It not only benefits my body, but it benefits my mind. By the time summer hits, I will be ready!
Lastly, the first quarter has also been my best business-wise. I'm not making 6-figures yet, but I'm making more than I have in the past. I don't know if it's just me, but when I make a change or adjust my plan I expect to see an immediate return. I know that's not how life works, but a girl can dream. In the first quarter, I have focused on my business more. I have seen it grow, but the comparison trap almost had me.
The Trap Almost Had Me
I wasn't celebrating my wins because they weren't the same wins I saw others having. What's the saying? You always want what you can't have? My wins won't be the same as the next person's and they're not meant to be. I consistently preach that you should not compare yourself to anyone else, but the comparison still gets me. I see another woman hit 6-figures and begin to doubt if I will ever get there. I'm still a work in progress just like you. I may not have had the astronomical success I envisioned, but I'm not where I was last year- and neither are you.